Air pressure regulator



Maylo, 1932= G. KOEHLE'R, JR., ET AL 1,857,917

AIR PRESSURE REGULATOR Filled June 22, 1929 m, gg/7,4%

Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE ROEHLER, JR., AND WALTER I. HILL, or oINefNATI, omo, AssIGNoRs To KELLOGG MANUFACTURING COMPANY, PORATION OF yNEW `YORK INC., F ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A COR- n AIR PRESSURE RRGULA'roR Application sied fune 22,

This invention relates to a pressure regulator and especially to a device'for inflating automobile tires to a predetermined pressure from a source of air pressure supply.

An object of the invention is to provide a small compact device with a minimum of moving parts.

Another object is to provide a device which is especially simple `in manufacture andas- A,lo sembly and which is effective in operation.

` Another object is to provide a simple and efiicientk pressure setting and adjustment means upon which the device is mounted.

Another object is to provide a device which `.l5 effects rapid pulsations at a substantially uniform rate throughout its operation of inflating a tire or other receiver.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind wherein no loss of pressure is possi# ble during operative or inoperative conditions of the device. A

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of ay device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the device shown in Fig. 1, part being broken away.

.3.0 F.Fig 3 is a view `taken on line 3"-*3 of Devices have heretofore been provided for inflating automobile tires and other containers to predetermined pressures froma source of Huid Linder pressure such as an air compressor. Many of said devices have been open to various objections and disadvantages amongwhich are relatively sensitive structures which require frequent inspection and adjustment and cleaning. relatively slow operation, and substantial non-uniformity of operation during the filling of a tire. The herein described invention avoids these and other diflieulties experienced with air pressure regulators in common use and further than this renders the cost of manufact-ure, installation and maintenance of devices of this kind quite small. The device consists essentially of asmall 5 closed housing formed ofl castings with a 1929. ,serialA No. 372,991.

minimum of machining. The structure furthermore vrequires no close machining to exact dimensionsa-s would be normally eX- pected'in devices of this'cha-racter. For this reason there is little if any appreciable wear 5 onl the parts after long and abusive use of the device and adjustments are practically unnecessary. v

As shown herein the device comprises a casy ing conveniently made up of castings and consi sting-of a bottom 10 a central member 11 and a top member 12 secured together by a plural-l ity of cap screws orbolts 13. Between the4 members-10 and 11, and'llV and 12 are secured diaphragms 14 and 15 of Hexible impervious material such as rubber or rubber composition. The casing member 10 has a cylindrical bore 18 and an outlet opening 171eommunicating therewith. The member 11 has a cylindrical bore 16 extending entirely through M it and of substantially uniform size with the bore 18 in member 10. The adjacent faces of these two members haveenlarged counterbores to permit of a limited fiexing'of the diaphragm 14 therebetween. The top member 12 has an interiorly undercut bore 19 anda flange 20 for receiving and limiting themovement ofan adjusting' disc-21. The adjusting disc 21 carries'a suitably restricted stud 22 and an enlarged head 23, the stud 22 eX- tending throughfdiaphragm 15 'which is held in close association with disc 21 by the head or button 23. The outlet opening 17 has suitable/means for receiving a tire ination hose 24 to which may be secured the usual tire lling chuck (not shown). A straight radial bore 25 extends through-fthel center casing member 11 and isinteriorly threaded at its outer end V250 'to receive a tubular inletfvalve member 26 whichis connected with any suitable pipe or tube in constant communication with a suitable source of air pressure supply such asI an air vcompressor (not shown). Suitable bored bosses 27 on opposite sides of the housingor casing member provide sliding 'bearings for a pair of rods 28. Between the top ofrods 28 is mounted a plate 29. A pressure spring 30 has its opposite ends in abutment with plate 29 and the outer face 31 of disc 21. A lcross headu 32 `with a central 100 threaded boss 33 has the remaining ends of rods 28 secured thereto. Into the threaded boss 33 is'screwed a suitable threaded stud 34 provided with any type of manipulating handle suchas a crank 35. The endet threaded stud 34 is cminter-bored to receive a simple antifriction device which in this embodiment comprises a pair of steel balls 36, one of which protrudes slightly from the studand abuts the outer exposed face of bottoininember 10.

From the foregoing it will be noted that rotation of the stud 34 will force ,the casing away from cross head 32 and effecting a compression of pressure adjusting spring 3Q upon disc 21 and diaphragm 15 associated therewith. In the cylindricalchambercomprising the bores16 and 18 is disposed the reciprocating supply valve control device.V This consists essentially of a two-part tubular piston extending through andxed on the dia.- phragm 14. The upper portion 37 ofi-the piston has a fiange 38 abutting the top ofv diaphragm 14 and a depending exteriorly threaded .extension 39 passing through the diaphragm. Above the flange 38 the member 37 has a tapered outer wall 40. The lower portion 41 of the piston is screw threaded onto the extension 39 and theiend thereof cooperates with the flange 38 for fixing the piston to the diaphragm. The member 37 has a bore therethrough enlarging at two places to pro.-Y

vide shoulders 42-and 43. The bore between shoulders 42 and 43 receives and. guides `a sleevelike portion 44 having radial. holes therethrough to eftect'communication between the interior of sleeve 44 and the annular space surrounding it above'shoulder 43. A poppetvalve head is provided on top of sleeve 44 and this seats upon the'topl face of member 37 and eilects a seal of the bore therein. Seated against the bottom of the chamber 18 in member 10 is a tubular pin 47 having'a bore 48 therethrough communicatingwith the outlet passage 17. lSurrounding the tubular pin 47 is a spring 49 ywhich rests upon the bottom wall of the chamber and abuts the lend of the projection 39' to normally raise the piston to the positionshown. The wall thickness of tubular pin k47 is such that at itstop a spring 50 may be seated to extend within the hollow interior of sleeve 44 and abut the lower face of poppet valve head 46. The diameter of the bore in the sleeve 44 and the thickness of the wall of said sleeve are such that the top of tubular pin 47 vmay abut the bottom of sleeve 44 to compress spring 50. The valve 26 contains the usual ball check 51 which is normally held closed bythe pressure from a source of supply entering at 52.y Theusual spring 53 insures perfect Vseating of ball check 51. A suitable shouldered bore. in valve member 26'carries a reciprocating plunger P54 having a valve operating pin 55 which may unseat ball check 51. The end vof plunger 54 is tapered at 56 complementally to thetaper 40 on the piston so that when the piston is de pressed against spring 49 the plunger 54 will recede into its bore and the pin 55 will open valve 51. It will be noted that the buttonlike member 2.3seats directly upon the top of poppet valve head 46 and normally holds it upon its seat on top ot piston 37. Thus a normally sealed chamber is provided between diaphragins 14 and 15 and around the piston and communication through the sleeve 4.4 is normally cut off by thelseating of the/poppet valve. A

l? rom the foregoing it will be apparent that the ,diaphragm 15 may be depressed by spring 30 and the pressure exerted thereon Vwill flex diaphragm 15 and presshead 23V against the poppet valve head; 46 and thus depress the piston for starting a iow of air at compressor or tank pressure. As will be better understood from the description of the operation of the device indicating means are desirable for the accurate regulation of the amount of pressure to be exerted by spring 30. This means consists ot a suitable bearing block- 57 in which is jonrnalled a shaft 58 having a gear 59 at one end and a pin 60 atthe other end lfor receiving an indicator hand 6l. Teeth 62 are cut on one side of one of the rods 28 for receiving the teeth of gear 59. Thus when the crank 35 is turned and the body of the housingr has movement relative tothe yoke comprising plate 29 cross head 32 and rods 28 the extent of such'relative movement will be converted into rotary movement ofthe pin and indicating hand 61. A suitably graduated dial 63 is mountedupon the end ot bearing block 57.

The operation of the device is as follows: Normally av supply of air under pressure is connected with the device at 52 so that the ball check 51 is urged to a closed position; The vusual- ;tire iilling air chuck (not shown) is mounted on the end of hose -24 and the valve in this chuck is closed under the air pressure within the device. Assuming that the crank 35 had been turned to compress spring 30 and thespring was exerting 50'pounds pressure upon discr 21 and diaphragm 15 connected therewith, thediaphragm would flexv Linder this pressure and depressv piston` 37 by reason of the transmission ofthis presl sure through 23 and the poppet valve head 46.A It now, the air chuck on hose 24 were seated-upon a tire valve stem-an d thus opened, communication would be established through outlet 17 to the interior of tubular-stem 47 and that pressure would rush into the tire. Upon decreasing the pressure in the outlet 17 and'outlet chamber 18 the entire piston would be depressed initially under the intluenceot spring 30 to unseat ball check 51 by the cooperation of faces 40 and 56 on the piston and plunger. At this time poppet` valve 46 is still held lon its'seat by the head now rushes past ball check 51 and into cha-mber 16 around and above all parts of the piston therein. As the air pressure builds up it ope 'ate-s on the combined area of the poppet valve -head and the exposed top head of piston 37 and begins to depress it against the resistance ot spring 49. At the same time this pressure in inlet chamber 16 forces dia.- phragm 15 back against the pressure of spring 30. As the piston 37 continues to move down the check valve 51 is further opened and still greater pressure is built up in chamber 16. Piston 37 then continues to move down `until the end of sleeve 44 of the poppet valve. abuts the top of tubular pin 47 whereupon further movement of the piston causes the pin to unseat. the poppet valve and break the air yseal so that air will rush into the interior of piston 87 at the top, thence through perforations 45r and through the tub-ular'passages in the sleeve and in the tubular pin, thence through the outlet 17, hose Q4 and kthrough the air chuck into the tire. It is to be .understood that the amount of movement of the .piston and the various parts just described is very small and that several. movements take place very rapidly. 'Vhe'n the-seal of the poppet valve is broken, spring 50 which has been under compression is now tree to litt the poppet valve. Thus .unrestricted How of air is established momentarily from check valve 51 to chamber 16 thence through the bores in piston 37 through the outlet. The pressure which is thus quickly built up in hose 24 now also builds up in outlet chamber 18 and, with the assistance of spring 49 quickly raises the entire pi ston so that the poppet valve is removed trom the positive influence of the tubular pin 4T and the spring 50 is overcome so that poppet valve 46 again is seated by abut-ment with the head 23below the diaphragm 15. Thus all communication is again cut ott' between the chamber 16 and outlet chamber 18 and the plunger 54 has been again. allowed to project into the device by the receding inclined tace 40 whereupon the ball check 51 may seat and shut off the flow ot air pressure. The pressure in the outlet chamber now reduces as some of the air flows into the tire which is obviously ot greater capacity than the, outlet chamber 18. As the pressure in the tire and outlet chamber ap# preach equalization, the piston on diaphragm 14 will assume a position of equilibrium. It the pressure in the tire however is less than that to which the spring 30 hasbeen adjusted, the spring operating on disc 21 and diaphragm 15 will again depress the piston and initiate a second cycle of operation.y It should be appreciated that the spring 49 is relatively light and that there-tore the device will come to rest with check valve'l closed when pressure in the tire is just below the actual pounds pressure exert-ed by spring 30.

This dierence `is lvaluable since it precludes overinfiation in yunknown degrees. The de; vice however ismadeito inflate to exactly the number of pounds pressure. desired by making an adjust-ment of` the figures on indicator-dial 63. 1tis worthy of note thatthe device operates with'uniform rapidity through.- out its series of cycles of operation, normally increasing the pressure in the tire. 0r receiver about two pounds for each cycle'fof operation. It is also noteworthy that so :longfas there is even a slightly lesser pressure' in the receiver` than inthe outlet chamber 18after a given closing operationott-he poppetvalve, the'device `will quickly perform one or more cycles of operation. f

Itwill be understood ,that structural modi.- tications of the device may beinade without departing from thepresent invention, toreX- ample the diaphragm 14 may bereplaced with a cup piston leather and made to recip recate in a perfectly smooth continuous bore in the inlet and out-let chambers 16 and 18. The various moving parts may have an al lowance Jfor finish. withinliberal limits :so that they may be turned oirton the ordinary screw machine at a low manufacturing cost. That is claimed is 1.. The combination with a sourceof conl tinuous. air pressure, of a easing having, a chamber therein, a piston dividing said chamber into inlet and outlet chambers and .having Vlimited reciprocation therein, a valve opened by the piston and. controlling air. inlet flow into said inlet chamber, a valve in the piston controlling conmnunication'l be tween inlet and outlet chambers and a pressure determining ladjustment means initiating movement of the pistonfin a valve opening direction. l 7 2. The combinationwith asource oftluid pressuresupply, of a hollow casing, a movable member' dividing the hollow casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a valve carried bythe movable member an'd controlling communication between said chambers, a normally closed inlet valve for admitting fluid under pressure fro'mV such supply source to the inlet chamber, a plunger cooperating with the movable member to effect opening of said inlet valve as the mov-l able member is moved in one direction, a da phragm.l adjustable pressure means operative on the diaphragmto initiate valve opening movement ofthe movable memberwhen pressure inthe inlet chamber is below that in the outlet chamber, said diaphragmalso serving to normally retain .the communication control valve closed, and means to positively open said latter valve1when the movable member is movedl a predetermined' distance under the influence of inlet"chamber pres# sure.. y: K .1.

3. A combination of a hollow casing, agpiston dividing the Acasi'nginto an inlet chamber mined movement ofv the piston, yieldable.

means urging the piston against valve open ing movement, and an adjustable pressure regulating means serving as anabutment for closing the communication control valve and for initiating valve opening movement ofthe'A piston when the pressure in the outlet-chamber is less than that in the inlet chamber -witlr the supply valve closed.. Y

4. In combination a hollow casinghaving a movable member dividing it into ,an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, valve means in the movable member to control commimi'- cationbetween said inlet chamber andsaid outlet chamber, a pressureinlet valve opened by the movable member to allow pressure to enter said inlet chamber anda? pressure setting device comprising a lexible'diapliragm forming a head 'for the inletchamber and means normally exerting pressure on said -diaphragm, said pressure setting-'means serving to normally seat the communication con trol valve means in said movable member and to initiate movement ofthe movable mem-v,

ber to cause said pressure inlet-valveto ope-n. 5. An air pressure regulator comprising a combination of a hollow casing, a hollowpis-- t0n dividing the casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a valve in the piston controlling communication between said' chambers, a pressure supply valve 'opening by movement of the piston in one direction to' admit pressure to said inlet chamber, means to open the valve in the piston onf predeter-- mined movement of the piston in one direction, andan adjustable yielding abutment for closing the Ivalve in the pistonV and initiating supply valve opening movement of the piston.

Y6.*An air 'pressure regulator comp-rising a hollow body, a vpiston oscillatable therein, a

valve in the piston, means positively seating and unseatingthe valve-in theV piston, taA

premura supply valve for admitting pres- `sure to said hollow body, said supply valve opening and closing upon 4movement ofl the piston in opposite directions', and lyielding adjustable mea-ns for determining `the .nor-

valvefin the piston.

7. An air pressure regulator comprising a mal position of the means forsealing thehollow body, a movable member therein dividing the body into a: pressure inl-et chamr and a, pressure outlet chamber, a pressure inlet valveA for admitting` pressure tov said inlet chamber, said inlet valve being movable to open position bymovementof. the movable member in one .directiom-a communication which the communication valve closes and servingto initiate inlet valve opening movement of ythe movable member when the pressure in 'the outlet chamber falls below setting pressure.

8. In: an air pressure regulator,- the combination of ahollow casing having a piston member reciprocable therein a poppet valve in'fthe piston, said piston dividing the casing: intoan inlet chamber and an outlet cha-mber,a normally closed pressure inlet valve,means operable by the piston for opening tliepressure inlet valve, means yieldingly urging the piston against inlet valve opening movement, means yieldingly urging the pop/pet vvalve to Aopen position, means for positively opening the poppet valve upon predetermined movement of the piston in inlet valve-opening direction, and an adjustable. pressure setting means adapted to vinitiate pressure valve openingmovement of the piston.y

9.. In a device ot' the class described the combination of a vcasing having an inlet chamber and outlet chamber, a hollow movable member .reciprocable therebetween, a valveon the inlet-chamber end of the movable member for controlling communication between the chambers, means yieldingly urging thermovable member toward the inlet chamber, 4a pressure inlet valve discharging into the" inlet chamber, means opening said valve when the movable member is moved against t-he yielding means, and mea-ns subjected on opposite sides to adjustable settingpressure and the pressure in the inlet Chamber for initiating pressure inlet valve openingl movement of the movable member, for initially retaining the communication control valve closed and for receding underfincreased inlet chamber pressure to permit openingofthe control valve whereby inlet chamber pressure may be discharged to the outlet chamber to charge a receiver connected thereto, the movable member effecting continued reciprocating movement and its associated valve effecting intermittent openingland'closing until suchv receiver attains a pressure equal to the setting pressure.

' `l0. ln combination a. casing, a fluid pressure operated piston therein, a pressure inlet valveopened b'y movement of the piston in one direction, a poppet valve on the piston, means positively unseating the poppetv valve upon continued movement of the pistion 1n the said direction and yielding means urging',` the piston in the opposite directionv when fluid pressure is equalized on opposite sides of the piston.

11. In combination a casing having a cylindrical bore, a piston reciprocable in said bore and providing an inlet chamber -and an outlet chamber communicating through the piston, a valve on the pistoncontrolling communication between said chambers, means yieldingly urging the piston valve to open position, means positively opening said pist0n valve upon predetermined movement of the piston in one direction, means yieldingly resisting movement of the piston in said direction, a pressure inlet valve opened by movement of said piston in said direction, whereby pressure in the inlet chamber is increased to move the piston against the yielding resistance, and an adjustable pressure setting means eifecting initial movement of the piston against said yielding resistance to effeet pressure valve opening when the outlet chamber pressure and the pressure of the yielding resistance combined are less than inlet chamber pressure.

12. In combination al three part casing each of the parts having aligned bores therein, diaphragm members secured between each of the adjacent casing members, means securing the casing parts together and securing the diaphragms, a piston member disposed in the aligned bores in the casing and fixing to one of said diaphragms, said piston having a tapered wall portion, a plunger operated valve, a plunger having a face cooperating with the taper on the piston for opening the valve upon movement of the piston, the piston having a central bore therethrough, a communication valve at the end of said piston adjacent the second diaphragm, means controllingopening and closing of the communication valve, and an adjustable spring pressure means operative in the direction of closing of the communica-tion valve.

13. In combination a casing having a. bore therein, a piston member reciprocable in said bore, a diaphragm securedtransversely of the said bore and having the piston secured thereto, a- .second diaphragm secured transversely adjacent an end of the piston and' movable relative thereto, means for eXerting predetermined pressure on said last mentioned diaphragm, a valve on the piston controlling communication through the piston and normally closed under the predetermined pressure of said last mentioned diaphragm, a pressure inlet valve, means to open one of said valves upon movement of the piston in the direction of diaphragm pressure thereon.

14. In an air pressure regulator the combination of a casing having a chamber therein provided with inlet and outlet ports, a diaphragm in the chamber, a piston member supported by the diaphragm and having an inclined wall, a valve having an operating member coacting with the inclined wall of ment of the piston member and for controlling flow through the piston.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 12th day of June,

GEORGE KOEHLER, JR., WALTER P. HILL. 

